Snyder pleads not guilty to rape charges
ALBANY COUNTY — Michael Snyder, 59, of Medusa, who worked as a corrections officer at the county jail, was arraigned Friday morning on charges he had raped an inmate at the jail, and had sexual contact with another.
He was arraigned before Judge William A. Carter in Albany County Court, according to a release from the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, and he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
An Albany County Grand Jury, the release said, previously returned charges against Snyder, alleging that he committed three counts of third-degree rape and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual act — all felonies — as well as eight counts of second-degree sexual abuse — all misdemeanors.
The indictment alleges that on three separate dates between March 16 and March 22, while at the jail, Snyder “did engage in sexual intercourse and oral sexual conduct with a female inmate who during each incident was incapable of consent by reason of being an inmate at the facility,” the release says.
The indictment also alleges that between Dec. 10, 2018 and Jan.20, 2019, while at the jail, Snyder subjected a different female inmate to sexual contact when she was incapable of consent, also by reason of being an inmate at the facility.
No new court appearances have been scheduled at this time.
Special Victims Unit Bureau Chief Shannon Sarfoh and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Schrantz are handling the prosecution of this case.
— Melissa Hale-Spencer